Athletics News

Columbia, Mo. – Four outstanding former student-athletes, one pioneering broadcaster, and a championship baseball team have been selected for induction into the University of Missouri Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame.They will represent the 20th induction class since the inception of the Hall in 1990.

Here is a look at this year’s inductees, with more extensive biographical information to follow:

CLASS OF 2009

Mahlon Aldridge – Broadcaster (1956-72)

A central figure in the creation and growth of the Tiger Radio Network, who was known as the voice of Mizzou Athletics for nearly three decades, calling play-by-play for football and basketball games;

Ryan Fry – Baseball (1995-98) [Native of Oak Grove, Mo.]

Among the top offensive players in school history, who holds numerous career and season records.Was named a 2nd-Team All-American in 1998, and was a two-time Academic All-American, in addition to being the younger brother of MU wrestler Shaon Fry, a 1999 inductee into the MU Athletics Hall of Fame;

Jim Johnson – Football (1960-62) [Native of Maywood, Ill.]

A key contributor at quarterback and safety for legendary Coach Dan Devine on some very good Mizzou teams. Became most well-known post-Mizzou for his 22-year NFL coaching career, where he was regarded as one of the top defensive masterminds in NFL history.Being inducted posthumously, after passing away in July of 2009;

Likely one of the most talented players to ever suit up for the women’s basketball team, was a 2nd-Team All-American who led Mizzou to the Sweet Sixteen and 40 wins in two seasons, before becoming the school’s first-ever first-round WNBA Draft pick;

An honorable-mention All-American who still has a prominent placing on much of the school’s career records lists.Has gone on to do outstanding work to promote the game of basketball and to provide positive behavior modeling for youngsters through the Harlem Ambassadors;

1964 Baseball Team

One of the most dominant teams in Mizzou Athletics in any sport, finished the year 27-5-1 overall and as national runners-up.Went a perfect 19-0 to claim MU’s 4th-straight Big Eight Championship;

The induction dinner will be held Fri., Jan. 22nd, 2009, at the Holiday Inn Executive Center in Columbia.A reception will begin at 6:00 p.m., followed by dinner at 7:00 p.m.Tickets may be purchased by contacting Carly Northup in the Tiger Development Office, at (573) 884-6475.The class will be further honored during halftime ceremonies at the next day’s men’s basketball game, Jan. 23rd against Nebraska.

The Hall’s constitution and bylaws express its purpose – “…to recognize and honor those individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the achievements and prestige of the University of Missouri in the field of athletics, and who have continued to demonstrate in their lives, the values imparted by intercollegiate athletics.”

As called for in the Hall of Fame bylaws, former student-athletes are not eligible for consideration until five years after they complete their competitive career at Missouri.Coaches and staff members must have spent at least five years working at Mizzou, and also have a five-year waiting period.

The current class will up the membership to 169 individuals and four teams in the Hall of Fame.Inductees are honored in a display located in the main entrance at Mizzou Arena.

Was known as the Voice of Mizzou Athletics for nearly three decades, as he called the play-by-play for football and basketball games on the radio for 26 years (1956-1972) … Was the founding father of the old Missouri Sports Network that eventually started with an original group of five stations in 1948, but grew to more than 50 outlets who carried MU games … Gave countless hours of his personal time during the off-season to travel around the state of Missouri with various MU coaches and administrators to speak at community gatherings to help promote the athletic programs…

RYAN FRY

Baseball, 1995-98

Among the top offensive players in school history who holds numerous school career and season records … Named a 2nd-team All-American after his senior season of 1998 … A prolific offensive weapon who holds MU career records for hits (265), doubles (56), RBI (222), runs (223), extra base hits (106) and total bases (463), and ranks 2nd in home runs (42) and 4th in slugging percentage (.589) … His career batting average of .337 falls just shy of the MU career top-10 list.Hit .377 as a senior in 1998, with an MU-record 27 home runs, and drove in a career-high 78 runs … Holds MU single-season records in hits (92 in 1996) and home runs (27 in 1998) … Hit .387 as a sophomore, when he set the MU single-season record with 92 hits in 1996.Was named 1st-team All-Big Eight for his efforts, and was one of three outfielders … A standout in the classroom who twice earned GTE/Co-SIDA Academic All-American honors (1997 & 1998).Was also a three-time Academic All-Big 12 selection, as well (1996, 1997 & 1998) … Is younger brother to former MU All-American wrestler, Shaon Fry, who was a 1999 inductee into the MU Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame…

JIM JOHNSON

Football, 1960-62

Was a key contributor for legendary Coach Dan Devine for three seasons, and was a starter on both sides of the ball, back in the day of two-way players ... Started at safety in both 1961 and 1962, after being a key reserve in 1960 on defense.Served as the backup QB to Ron Taylor in 1960-61 before taking over the starting position in 1962.Was a southpaw QB who wore jersey #14 … In 1961, filled in for two games at QB for Taylor, who was injured, and he led the Tigers to a 13-7 win over Iowa State and an upset 10-7 win over favored Kansas, before giving way to Taylor … In 1962, took over at QB and led a rushing attack that would finish 7th in the NCAA in rushing and 9th in scoring.Also continued to play at safety and also returned punts on occasion … Is the last Tiger player to rush for a touchdown, throw for a touchdown and intercept a pass in the same game … The 1962 team that he led is likely one of the more underrated in Tiger history, as it finished 8-1-2, the last MU team to have only one loss in a season and finished the season with the second bowl victory in MU history.While the offense ranked 6th in the NCAA, the defense that Johnson started on also ranked 9th in total defense, and allowed only 52 points all season long … Became most well-known for his 22-year coaching career in the NFL, where he became regarded as one of the top defensive masterminds in NFL history.From 1999-2008, he gained a great deal of praise as the orchestrator of the renowned Eagles defense. His aggressive style kept Philadelphia at or near the top of the NFL in nearly every major defensive category since joining Andy Reid's staff on January 22, 1999 … From 2000-08, Johnson's units ranked second in the NFL in sacks (390), 3rd down efficiency (34.0%) and red zone touchdown percentage (43.9%), and fourth in fewest points allowed (17.7 per game). During his 10-year tenure in Philadelphia, the Eagles earned seven playoff berths, five trips to the NFC Championship game and one Super Bowl appearance (following the 2004 season).As the Eagles' defensive chief, Johnson's defense has produced 26 Pro Bowl selections … From 1977-83, Johnson served as defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Notre Dame, a stint that included a national championship in 1977 … After his MU playing days, he participated in the East-West Shrine Game, and went on to spend two seasons with Buffalo as a tight end (1963-64) … A native of Maywood, IL, Johnson (born 5/26/41) earned a bachelor's degree in education and a master's degree in physical education from Missouri … Passed away on July 28, 2009 at the age of 68…

Missouri's first-ever WNBA Draft pick, chosen in the 2001 first round by the Houston Comets. Played for six seasons … Led Tigers to a 40-22 record and the 2001 NCAA Sweet Sixteen for the second time in school history and the first time since 1982 … Real Sports Magazine second-team All-American, 2001. Full Court Press third-team All-American, 2001. Women's Basketball News Service fourth-team All-American, 2001. Women'sCollegeHoops.com All-Underrated Team, 2001 … First-team All-Big 12, 2001 (MU's first in the then-five-year history of the Big 12). Third-team All-Big 12, 2000. Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, 2000 … At the conclusion of her eligibility (just two seasons at MU), was in the MU career top-10 in 3-pointers attempted (2nd), blocked shots (3rd), 3-pointers made (3rd), points per game (4th), 3-point FG pct. (7th), and scoring (21st) … Is still in the MU career top-10 in blocked shots (3rd), points per game (4th), 3-pointers attempted (5th), 3-point FG pct. (5th), 3-pointers made (t-5th), and scoring (21st) … Is still in the MU single-season top-10 in steals (1st and 3rd), 3-point field goals (1st and t-9th), 3-point field goals attempted (1st and 10th), blocked shots (2nd and 3rd), field goals attempted (2nd), field goals (5th), scoring (6th), and points per game (t-6th) … Still owns single-game school records for steals (11) and blocked shots (7) in a game. The 11 steals is also a Big 12 Conference record … Led Missouri in scoring in both her junior (13.9 ppg) and senior (19.1) seasons. Also led her team in assists, blocks and steals in her junior season, and led team in blocks and steals her senior season…

SANDIE PROPHETE

Women’s Basketball, 1986-89

One of the all-time greats in Tiger women’s basketball, who has gone on to a very honorable life as a very accomplished member of the Harlem Ambassadors … Some 20 years after her playing days at Mizzou, her name is still littered all over the MU career record book.Still ranks 9th in scoring (1,480 points), 9th in field goals made, 8th in free throws made, 10th in free throw percentage, 9th in assists and 6th in steals.Her 579-point senior season of 1989 still stands as the 8th-best scoring season in Mizzou women’s basketball history, while her 3-pt. shooting percentage of 41.9% in 1987-88 is 4th-best in MU single-season history… Was a Kodak honorable-mention All-American as a senior, and twice was a 2nd-Team All-Big 12 selection… Started as a freshman and contributed to Mizzou’s 20-win season in 1985-86, which also included a Big Eight Tournament championship and NCAA Tournament bid.During sophomore season, Mizzou won 20 games again and tied for the Big Eight regular-season title, followed by a second-place showing as a junior and fourth as a senior… Since graduating from Mizzou, she has continued to demonstrate great leadership and positive mentoring to others through her work with the Harlem Ambassadors since 1998.Has toured around the world with the Ambassadors, entertaining young and old all around the world, showing a positive female role model figure for young girls who find themselves empowered by witnessing a woman directing a basketball team of male players, as well as competing against and beating male opponents… Has also served the country by entertaining the men and women of the armed forces, performing at over 300 events and over 120 bases in all service branches, including multiple engagements overseas… Part of her big messaging as part of the Ambassadors is promoting greater understanding between different races of people, while encouraging young people to make the positive life choice of staying in school and staying off of drugs…

1964 BASEBALL TEAM

One of the most dominant teams in Mizzou athletics in any sport, finished the year as national runners-up, falling in the national title game to Minnesota … Finished the year with a 27-5-1 overall record, including a perfect 19-0 record to claim Mizzou’s 4th-straight Big Eight Title … Led the nation in pitching, with a team earned run average of a miniscule 0.65 runs per game.This mark set the NCAA record at the time, and it still stands today as a record that might never be broken … The Tiger pitching staff was so dominant, it allowed one or zero runs in 21-of-33 games, including nine shutouts.In two games against Minnesota in the College World Series, Minnesota scored a total of two earned runs (MU won the first meeting, 4-1, but lost the championship game, 5-1) … In the College World Series, beat Arizona State (7-0), lost a one-run game to USC (3-2), then beat Seton Hall (3-1), Minnesota (4-1) and Maine (2-1) before falling to Minnesota in the title game (5-1) … Two members of the team – Dave Harvey and Keith Weber, were 1st-team All-Americans – both are individual inductees into the MU Hall of Fame … Nine members of the team were All-Big Eight selections, including four on the first team … Eleven members of the team went on to sign professional baseball contracts…